Meta-analysis of some results of clinical trials on sulodexide therapy in peripheral occlusive arterial disease.

The aim was to look at the effect of sulodexide in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with peripheral occlusive arterial disease (POAD), by verifying, through meta-analysis of Italian data, if the drug affects the clinical course of claudication or the main risk factors for POAD. Sulodexide increases the pain-free walking distance (benefit 36% vs controls, P < 0.001). The meta-analysis confirmed the effectiveness of sulodexide in improving claudication (lower limit of the 95% CI for overall odds ratio always > 1). There was a marked effect in lowering triglycerides (overall -28%, P = 0.0015), fibrinogen (-13%, P < 0.0001) and plasma and serum viscosities, and in increasing high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (24.4%, P = 0.0007). The medium-term administration of sulodexide has a therapeutic effect on claudication of diabetic and/or hyperlipidaemic patients suffering from POAD stages- and also counteracts several POAD risk factors. Long-term use of sulodexide appears to be well tolerated. The treatment has a low daily cost; therefore, it has a favourable cost-benefit ratio, in view of the high general costs associated with global POAD care, particularly in diabetic patients.

[Serotonin and monoamineoxidase activity in platelets of children]. / Serotonina e attività' monoaminossidasica nelle piastrine di soggetti in età pediatrica.

We examined 5-HT concentration and monoamine oxidase activity in the platelets. We observed 55 children, 30 healthy and 25 with neuropathological situations. No significant difference exists between two groups. MAO activity is not dependent from 5-HT concentration. As the enzyme seems to exist in multiple forms, the type B would be present in the platelets. This form presents less affinity for serotonin. If MAO do not act on platelets 5-HT levels, another mechanism might be to regulate 5-HT concentration in the platelets.

[Platelet monoamine oxidase activity in some neurological diseases of childhood]. / Attività monoaminossidasica piastrinica in alcune malattie neurologiche dell'infanzia.

In this work, we examined platelet MAO activity in 25 children with various neurological disorders and compared them with 30 control subjects. We found that platelet MAO activity changed in children with headache and very little in children with epilepsy and mental retardation. It is very difficult to interpret these results; therefore further works are needed to clarify platelet enzymatic activities.

[Plasma dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity in clinically healthy children]. / Attivita' della dopamina-beta-idrossilasi plasmatica in soggetti in eta' pediatrica clinicamente sani.

Dopamine-beta-Hydroxylase is the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine. Plasma D beta H activity was measured with spectrophotometric method in 60 healthy children of various age groups. Plasma D beta H activity is influenced by age: the means reveal a progressive rise in activity with each successive age group. Also, a great individual variation was found. Therefore, measurement of D beta H activity is not a good indication of the activity of the simpathetic nervous system, except in special pathological conditions. Moreover, the wide range of activities among normal human subjects might indicate important factors in determining the plasma D beta H level. The possibility of a genetic control must be considered.

[Relation among plasma dopamine beta-hydroxylase, monoamine oxidase and Cu++]. / Relazione fra dopamina-beta-idrossilasi, monoaminossidasi e Cu++ nel plasma.

Dopamine-beta-Hydroxylase and Monoamineoxidase are two plasmatic enzymes whose activity is Cu++ dependent. D beta H and Mao activity and Cu++ concentration has been dosed in plasma of 30 different aged subjects, using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained results show the presence of a direct correlation between MAO and Cu++, and an inverse correlation between D beta H and Cu++.

[Plasma benzylamine oxidase activity. I). Clinically healthy pediatric subjects]. / Attivita' benzilaminossidasica plasmatica - I) soggetti in eta' pediatrica clinicamente sani.

Plasma benzylamine oxidase has been determined in clinically healthy children. No differences exist between females and males. Inhibition by penicillamine and isoniazide shows a close dependency of enzymatic activity by the presence of copper and pyridoxal phosphate.